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Gentlemen,
Mr. St. Hill to the Ordnance Officers.
Office of Ordnance, Hong Kong, April 19, 1849. AVAILING myself of the desire conveyed in the latter part of the four and the last extracts in the Brigade Major's letter of the 4th instant, that I should offer such remarks as may appear necessary on the proposed change in this department, by sharing a portion of the duties of the Naval Storekeeper, I feel it incumbent on me respectfully to submit the following objections, trusting the Honorable the Major-General will be pleased to give them due consideration, when framing his report on the subject.
The most cursory glance at the details of the duties now forwarded, I feel assured is sufficient to show the extreme difficulty, if not impossibility, of the object in contemplation, (as far as this department is concerned,) and this will render further remark from me superfluous, but I deem it my duty to point out the very onerous responsibility under which I am now placed, by the immense quantity of valuable stores, &c., under my charge, and for which I am accountable to the authorities at home, myself and friends being under heavy security bonds. This is much increased by my having many inexperienced persons in my office, where it requires a service of several years to arrive at anything like a knowledge of the various natures of the stores, orders, and regulations for conducting so many different duties, the destructive nature of the climate, and the pilfering habits of the Chinese by whom I am surrounded.
Feeling, therefore, as I do, from the reasons stated, the impossibility of my undertaking any, even a small portion of the duties of the Naval Storekeeper, "with benefit to the service," I beg you will be pleased to submit the same respectfully and earnestly for the serious consideration of the Honorable the Major-General Commanding.
I have, &c,
(Signed)
HENRY ST. HILL,
Ordnance Storekeeper.
SCHEDULE of the Pay and Allowances of all Persons employed in the Civil Branch of the Ordnance and Barrack Departments at Hong Kong.
ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT. Annual Gross Pay, &c. Deduction on account of Income Tax, &c. Net Pay per annum. Remark 1 Storekeeper (first class) £936 0 0 £33 10 0 £902 10 0 1 Deputy ditto £540 0 0 £43 4 0 £496 16 0 1 First clerk £362 0 0 £29 0 0 £333 0 0 1 Second ditto. £322 0 0 £25 16 0 £296 4 0 1 Assistant fire-master. £45 12 6 £1 6 7 £44 5 11 Absent on leave in England. Establishment 8 Temporary clerks, @ $70 per month each £525 0 0 £15 6 3 £509 13 9 1 Ditto ditto, @ $60 £150 0 0 £4 7 6 £145 12 6 One of these to be dispensed with on the return of deputy storekeeper. 1 Foreman of storehousemen, @ 5s. 6d. per day £86 1 1 £1 19 1 £84 2 5 1 Ditto of magazine. @ ditto £86 1 1 £1 19 1 £84 2 5 1 Cooper @ ditto £86 1 1 £1 19 1 £84 2 5 2 Ditto @ 4s. 2d. £156 10 0 £2 12 2 £153 17 10 1 Painter @ 1s. 3d. £19 11 3 £19 11 3 Royal Artillery employed in magazine Chinese as artificers, watchmen, porters, coolies, &c. £100 0 0 Average per annum. £620 0 0 Ditto. Total Ordnance Department. £4165 6 7 £4001 14 8BARRACK DEPARTMENT.
£ s. d. £ s. d. 1 Barrack-master + 689 15 0 55 19 0 633 16 0 1 Temporary clerk, at $50 per month 125 0 0 125 0 0 1 Superior barrack-sergeant 125 0 0 To be discharged on arrival of superior barrack-sergeant. 2 Barrack-sergeants, at 3s. per day 109 2 0 109 2 0 Total Barrack Department. £1014 18 0 Ordnance Total £4960 13 8Office of Ordnance, Hong Kong,
April 19, 1849.
(Signed)
HENRY ST. HILL,
Ordnance Storekeeper.
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